Abstract: A system to intelligently link a computer user to enormous databases of multi-media information. The system provides an automated facility to determine the value of information based on each user's subjective preferences. An execution is created by comparing these preferences with prior characterizations of information objects. Once the comparisons are made, an ordered list is compiled. The list provides a set of data sources starting with the most relevant and ending with the least relevant. By selecting and reviewing only the most significant references, the probability of locating a pertinent reference is increased dramatically while increasing the effectiveness of time spent reviewing results.

Abstract: An Enterprise Data Movement (EDM) system and method for performing data move operations in an enterprise computing system with improved efficiency. Data move operations preferably use operations of an existing database utility, for example, one or more of an unload or load operation, wherein the utility is already required to be performed. In other words, according to the invention, data move operations preferably use the utilities in an opportunistic or parasitic fashion, when they are already being performed for other reasons, thereby providing a dual purpose operation and increased efficiency.

Abstract: A system and method for providing consistency of replicated data in a distributed enterprise computing system by maintaining and using edition level values for data objects in both source and target database systems. When the EDM method captures changes made to a source database, the EDM method operates to obtain an edition level value of the source database. The EDM method then creates and stores a change record comprising the captured changed data in a log, wherein the change record includes the edition level value of the source database to which the changes are being made. When a data propagation operation is initiated to one or more target computer systems, the EDM method operates to obtain an edition level value of each of the target computer systems. For each target computer system, the method operates to compare the edition level value comprised in the change record with the edition level value of the target computer system.

Abstract: An Enterprise Data Movement (EDM) system and method for performing bulk data move operations and changed data propagation operations in an enterprise computing system with improved efficiency. The present invention provides synergy of operations between a bulk data move operation and a changed data propagation, wherein the load process of a bulk data move operation and the apply process of a changed data propagation operation operate to communicate with each other to ensure proper operation and also to ensure that each of the bulk move and propagation operations do not interfere with each other. Thus, the present invention provides an improved and automated procedure for performing bulk move and changed data propagation operations which reduces the amount of time required by database administrators to monitor and/or perform tasks.

Abstract: A system to intelligently link a computer user to enormous databases of multi-media information. The system provides an automated facility to determine the value of information based on each user's subjective preferences. An execution is created by comparing these preferences with prior characterizations of information objects. Once the comparisons are made, an ordered list is compiled. The list provides a set of data sources starting with the most relevant and ending with the least relevant. By selecting and reviewing only the most significant references, the probability of locating a pertinent reference is increased dramatically while increasing the effectiveness of time spent reviewing results.

Abstract: A coherent method for the creating, capturing, and retrieving of ideas, concepts, data, and/or multi-media information The system establishes a framework in which knowledge can be represented. The system is a computer-based system which utilizes multimedia, databases, and mass storage to implement this framework. It has an architecture and an open-ended-set of functional elements that combine to support knowledge processing. Knowledge is created by uniquely identifying and interrelating heterogeneous datasets located locally on a user's workstation or dispersed across computer networks. By uniquely identifying and storing the created interrelationships, the datasets themselves need not be locally stored. Datasets may therefore be located, interrelated and accessed across computer networks. In addition, an almost unlimited number of relationships can be created and stored as knowledge to be selectively filtered and collected by the end user.

Abstract: A Connection Server provides very flexible structures for the identification of objects to be interconnected, the identification of the links which connect them, and the auxiliary information needed to materialize objects when they are referenced. The connection Server is designed as a stand-alone reusable component. It interfaces with other independent components for services such as classification attributes, distributed database services, Noumena (object) storage, etc. Clean public programming interfaces are available for all components. It is independent from the "front-end", the user driven display of the Connections and associated meta-data. It is independent from any authoring facilities which may be used to customize the services, meta-data, etc., that are provided.

Abstract: A system including a method for cohesively storing and retrieving heterogeneous classification systems. The database schema of the present invention is constructed of three data substructures, the Attribute Classification, Attribute Value Instance and Attribute Value schemes. The three structures track globally uniquely identified representations of the descriptions, values, and attributes of various differing classification systems and their respective contents. The use of uniquely identifiable elements throughout the database schema allows computerized management of noncompatible classification systems without programming modifications as required in the prior art systems.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a knowledge base continuously developed through a method of repetitiously connecting various sources of locally and remotely located sources of data. The various sources of data can include reports, articles, books, audio recording, multi-media or computer data. The system uses a systematic approach of selecting a search criteria, selecting a set of search objects, identifying connections (relationships) between the search criteria and the search objects, creating an attribute (description of the relationship) and storage of the connection and its attribute. By following this approach additional connections can be made between already connected objects to exhaustively collect all possible relationships between objects. Through the use of unique identifiers the connections are made between systems located across networks.

Abstract: A computer server for storing and managing a digitized generic form of multiple heterogeneously formatted data objects (e.g. multi-media files). The system uniquely identifies both the generic form of the data and a description relating the stored generic form to the original formatted data. Through the management of the unique identifiers a requester need only specify an identifier to quickly access a data object regardless of platform incongruencies, particular stored format, location or addressing structure (i.e. particular file path). Once identified and located the generic data object form is transformed into a format usable by the requestor.

Abstract: A system employs communication messages in accordance with a determined protocol and includes a source node for producing messages in accordance with the protocol. Each message comprises at least a first level message structure with a unique tag value that identifies a class of message structures to which the first level message structure belongs. The unique tag value enables identification of a grammar template procedure that allows analysis of the first level message structure. A destination node receives the first level message structure and includes circuitry for determining the unique tag value. A memory in the destination node stores at addresses indicated by unique tag values, grammar template procedures for each class of first level message structures.

Abstract: A computer-based multimedia presentation system is provided with a synchronization scheme for recording and playing independent media. The disclosed system and method allows media processes and single medium processes to achieve and maintain synchronization with each other without process interdependence and without interprocess communication. This capability is provided by assigning a common clock for all processes, requiring all participating media processes to reference the common clock, informing each process of, a synchronization basepoint called a "zero-time", and then allowing each process to independently synchronize itself to the common clock. The common clock itself does not provide any stimulus to a media process; it is a passive component in the synchronization. The media process is the active component, referring to the common clock as required to maintain synchronization for the particular media it is handling.

Abstract: A computer token identification system uses a plurality of unique tokens to represent a plurality of items. The token architecture consists of a delimiter field, a version field, and a variable field. The delimiter field contains at least one token recognition character. The version field immediately follows the delimiter field and contains the version string of at least one character identifying a unique token version. The variable field immediately follows the version field and contains a variable string of at least one character conforming to a format specification for the token version. Each variable string is unique for a token version. The version string and variable string can be of varying lengths, and the characters of the version string and variable string that are adjacent are from different character set types.